Nabongo Mumia: powerful King of the Wanga Kingdom

Nabongo Mumia [Courtesy]

Nabongo Mumia Shiundu was the 7th King of the Wanga Kingdom during the pre-colonial Kenya. The Wanga Kingdom was at the time the most advanced and organised Kingdom in Kenya economically, politically and even military-wise.

At the beginning of the British colonialism, the white administrators turned his role to be that of a paramount chief in charge of the expansive Kingdom which transcended through Kenya to Uganda.

Mumia was born in 1849 to Nabongo Shiundu and Queen Wamanya. The senior Nabongo was the King of Wanga Kingdom and so Nabongo Mumia grew up as a prince.  He took over as king in 1882 after the death of his father.

 The Wanga Kingdom happened to be the most centralized and highly developed Kingdom in the history of Kenya before the coming of the white settlers in the early 1900s. Currently, the Wanga who lives in most parts of Kakamega County number approximately 740,000 people and still retain Nabongo as their cultural ruler. The present Nabongo is Peter Mumia II.

Nabongo Mumia who was the last paramount chief of the Wanga Kingdom left an impressive legacy as a notable figure in the pre-colonial and colonial history. Rather than resisting the colonialists, he strategically collaborated with them. Part of the reason for this decision was that his father, Nabongo Shiundu had prophesized about the coming of the white man and had advised Mumia not to resist them.

While some argue that Mumia’s collaboration with the British was a sign of surrender to the colonialists, others see the decision as pragmatic. The latter say this helped maintain the prominence of the Wanga Kingdom during a moment of considerable upheaval. He was also able to secure relative peace during this time.  

Nabongo Mumia died in 1949 and was buried in a large ceremony attended by many people who came from wide and far. Mumias town was named after Nabongo Mumia.